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PROCEEDINGS 



Board of General Officers 



RESPECTING 



MAJOR JOHN ANDRE 




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PRIVAT^^PRINTED 

1867 




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PROCEEDINGS 



O F 



Board of General Officers, 

Held by Order of His Excellency General 
Washington, Commander in Chief of 
the Army of the United States of America : 
Re/pe^ing Major Andre, Adjutant Gene- 
ral to the Britijh Army^ Sept. 29, 1780. 

To which are APPENDED, The fever al 
Letters which pajfed to and from New- 
York on the Occafton^ ^c. 

Publifhed by Order of Congrefs. 



^^^=^ =;={^^— == ^^ 



PROCEEDINGS 

OF A 

BOARD 

O F 

GENERAL OFFICERS, 

Held by Order of 

His Excellency Gen. WASHINGTON, 

Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States 
of America. 

RESPECTING 

Major JOHN ANDRE, 

Adjutant General of the Britifti Army. 



September 29, 1780. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed by FRANCIS BAILEY, in Market-Street 

M.DCC.LXXX. 






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EXTRACTS OF LETTERS 

from General Washington, to the 
President of Congress. 



Robifon's Houfe^ in the Highlands^ Sept. 26, 1780. 

SIR, 

I HAVE the honor to inform Congrefs, that I arrived 
here yefterday about twelve o'clock, on my return from 
Hartford. Some hours previous to my arrival Major Ge- 
neral Arnold w^ent from his quarters, which were this 
place, and, as it was fuppofed, over the river to the garrifon 
at Weft Point, whither I proceeded myfelf, in order to 
vifit the poft. I found General Arnold had not been there 
during the day, and on my return to his quarters he was 
ftill abfent. In the mean time, a packet had arrived from 
Lieut. Colonel Jamefon, announcing the capture of a John 
Anderfon, who was endeavouring to go to New- York 
with feveral interefting and important papers, all in the 
hand writing of General Arnold. This was alfo accom- 
panied with a letter from the prifoner, avowing himfelf to 
be Major John Andre, Adjutant General to the Britifli 
army, relating the manner of his capture, and endeavour- 
ing to fhew that he did not come under the defcription ot 
a fpy. From thefe feveral circumftances, and informa- 
tion that the General feemed to be thrown into fome de- 
gree of agitation, on receiving a letter a little time before 
he went from his quarters, I was led to conclude imme- 
diately that he had heard of Major Andre's captivity, and 
that he would, if pofTible, efcape to the enemy, and accord- 
ingly took fuch meafures as appeared the moft probable to 
apprehend him. But he had embarked in a barge and 
proceeded down the river, under a flag, to the Vulture 

ftiip 



( 4 ) 
ftiip of war, which lay at fome miles below Stoney and 
Verplank's Points. He wrote me a letter after he got on 
board. Major Andre is not arrived yet, but I hope he 
is fecure, and that he will be here to-day. 1 have been and 
am taking precautions, which 1 truft will prove effedlual 
to prevent the important confequences which this conduft, 
on the part of General Arnold, was intended to produce. 
1 do not know the party that took Major Andre, but it 
is faid that it confifted only of a few militia, who afted in 
fuch a manner upon the occafion, as does them the higheft 
honor, and proves them to be men of great virtue. As 
foon as 1 know their names, 1 Ihall take pleafure in tranf- 
mitting them to Congrefs. 



Paramus, October j, 1780. 
SIR, • 

I HAVE the honour to enclofe Congrefs a copy of 
the proceedings of a Board of General Officers in the cafe 
of Major Andre Adjutant General to the Britifh army. 
This officer was executed in purfuance of the opinion 
of the Board, on Monday, the 2d inftant, at 12 o'clock, 
at our late camp at Tappan. Befides the proceedings 
I tranfmit copies of fundry letters refpefting the matter, 
which are all that pafled on the fubjedl, not included in the 
proceedings. 

I have now the pleafure to communicate the names of 
the three perfons who captured Major Andre, and who 
refufed to releafe him, notwithflanding the moft earneft 
importunities and afllirances of a liberal reward on his 
part. Their names are, yoh?i Paulding, David Williams, 
and Ifaac Van Wert. 



PROCEEDINGS 





GEORaE THE THIRD. 



PROCEEDINGS 

O F A 

Board of General Officers, 

Held by Order of his Excellency General Washington, 
commander in chief of the army of the United States 
of America, refpefting Major Andre, Adjutant General 
of the Britiih army, September the 29th, 1780, at 
Tappan, in the State of New- York, 

PRESENT, 

Major General Greene, Prefident, 
Major General Lord Stirling, 
Major General St. Clair, 
Major General The Marquis de la Fayette, 
Major General Howe, 
Major General The Baron de Steuben, 
Brigadier General Parfons, 
Brigadier General Clinton, 
Brigadier General Knox, 
Brigadier General Glover, 
Brigadier General Patterfon, 
Brigadier General Hand, 
Brigadier General Huntington, 
Brigadier General Starke, 

John Lawrence, Judge- Advocate General. 

MAJOR Andre, Adjutant General to the Britifh army 
was brought before the Board, and the following 
letter from General Waftiington, to the Board, dated 
Head Quarters, Tappan, September 29th, 1780, was laid 
before them and read. 

" Gentlemen, 
" Major Andre, Adjutant General to the Britifh army, 
" will be brought before you for your examination. He 
" came within our lines in the night, on an interview 
" with Major General Arnold, and in an afTumed charac- 
" ter ; and was taken within our lines, in a difguifed ha- 
" bit, with a pafs under a feigned name, and with the 
** inclofed papers concealed upon him. After a careful 

" examination. 



( 6 ) 

•* examination, you will be pleafed, as fpeedily as poffi- 
" ble, to report a precife ftate of his cafe, together with 
" your opinion of the light in which he ought to be con- 
** fidered, and the punishment that ought to be inflifted. 
" The Judge Advocate will attend to affift in the exami- 
" nation, who has fundry other papers relative to this 
" matter, which he will lay before the Board. 
" / have the honour to be, 
" Gent/emen, 

" Your mojl obedient and humble fervant, 

« G. WASHINGTON. 
«* The Board of General Officers 
convened at Tappan." 

The names of the officers compofing the Board were 
read to Major Andre, and on his being afked whether he 
confeffed the matters contained in the letter from his Ex- 
cellency General Wafhington to the Board, or denied them, 
he said, in addition to his letter to General Wajhington, 
dated Salem, the z\th September, 1780. (which was read 
to the board, and acknowledged by Major Andre, to have 
been written by him, which letter is as follows : 

Salem, 24th Sept. 1780. 
"SIR, 

" What I have as yet /aid concerning myfelf, was in the 
" jujiijiable attempt to be extricated; I am too little accuf- 
" tomed to duplicity to have fucceeded. 

" I beg your Excellency will be perfuaded, that no alter- 
" ation in the temper of my mind, or apprehenfion for my 
" fafety, induces me to take the Jiep of addrejftng you, but 
" that it is to fecure myfelf from an imputation of having 
" affumed a mean character for treacherous purpofes or 
" felf interejl. A conduSl incompatible with the principles 
" that actuated me, as well as with my condition in life. 

" It is to vindicate my fame that I fpeak and not to fo- 
" licit fecurity. 

" The perfon in your pojjejjion is Major John Andre, 
" Adjutant General to the Britijh army. 

" The influence of one commander in the army of his 
" adverfary is an advantage taken in war. A correfpon- 
" dence for this purpofe I held ; as confidential {in the pre- 
" fent injiance) with his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. 

" To favour it, I agreed to meet upon ground not 
" within pojls of either army, a perfon who was to give 
" me intelligence ; I came up in the Vulture man of war 

for 



( »9 ) 

" for this effe£l, and was fetched by a boat from the Jhore to 
" the beach : Being there I was told that the approach of day 
" would prevent my return, and that I mujl be concealed 
" until the next night. I was in my regimentals and had 
" fairly rifked my perfon. 

" Againjl my Jiipulation, my intention and tvithout my 
" knowledge before hand, I was conduced zuithin one of 
♦* your pojis. Tour Excellency may conceive my fenfation 
" on this occajion and will imagine how much more I muji 
" have he en affe£ied, by a refufal to reconduSl me back 
" the next night as I had been brought. Thus become a 
" prifoner I had to concert my efcape. I quitted my uni- 
" form and was pajjed another way in the night without 
** the American pofts to neutral ground, and informed I was 
" beyond all armed parties 'and left to prefs for New- York, 
" / was taken at Tarry Town by fome volunteers. 

" Thus as I have had the honor to relate was I betrayed 
" (being Adjutant General of the Britijh army) into the 
" vile condition of an enemy in difguife within your pofs. 

" Having avowed myfelf a Britijh officer I have nothing 
" to reveal but what relates to myfelf, which is true on 
" the honour of an officer and a gentleman. 

" The requeji I have to make your Excellency, and I am 
" confcious I addrefs myfelf well, is, that in any rigour 
" policy may dilate, a decency of conduSi towards me may 
" mark, that though unfortunate I am branded with no- 
" thing dijhonourable, as no motive could be mine but the 
" fervice of my king, and as I was involuntarily an impojlor. 

" Another requeji is, that I may be permitted to write 
" an open letter to Sir Henry Clinton and another to a 
" friend for c loath s and linen. 

" I take the liberty to mention the condition of fome 
"gentlemen at Charles-Town, who being either on parole 
" or under protection, were engaged in a confpiracy againjl 
" us. Though their fituation is not fimilar, they are ohjeSis 
" who may be fet in exchange for me, or are perfons whom 
" the treatment I receive might affed. 

" // is no lefs. Sir, in a confidence in the generofety of your 
'* mind, than on account of your fuperior ftation that I have 
" chofen to importune you with this letter. 

'* / have the honour to be, with great refpeil. Sir, 
" Tour Excellency's moft obedient 
" and moft humble fervant, 

"JOHN ANDRE, 
" Adjutant General." 
His Excellency General Wafhington. 

is^c. l^c ^c.) That 



( 8 ) 

That he came on fhore from the Vulture floop of war 
in the night of the twenty-firll of September inftant, 
fomewhere under the Haverttraw mountain ; that the 
boat he came on fhore in carried Jio fiag, and that he had 
on a furtout coat over his regimentals, and that he wore 
his furtout coat when he was taken ; that he met Gene- 
ral Arnold on the fliore, and had an interview with him 
there. He alfo faid, that when he left the Vulture (loop of 
war, it was underftood he was to return that night ; but 
it was then doubted, and if he could not return he was 
promifed to be concealed on fhore in a place of fafety, until 
the next night, when he was to return in the fame man- 
ner he came on fhore ; and when the next day came he 
was folicitous to get back, and made enquiries in the courfe 
of the day, how he fhould return, when he was informed 
he could not return that way and he muft take the rout 
he did afterwards. He alfo faid. That the firft notice he 
had of his being within any of our pofis, was, being chal- 
lenged by the fentry, which was the firft night he was on 
fhore. He alfo faid, that the evening of the twenty- 
fecond of September inllant, he pafTed King's Ferry be- 
tween our pofis of Stoney and Ferplank's Points, in the drefs 
he is at prefent in, and which he faid was not his regimen- 
tals, and which drefs he procured, after he landed from 
the Vulture and when he was within our pofis, and that he 
was proceeding to New- York, but was taken on his way 
at Tarry Town, as he has mentioned in his letter, on Sa- 
turday the twenty-third of September inftant, about nine 
o'clock in the morning. 

The following papers were laid before the Board and 
fhewn to Major Andre, who confefTed to the board that 
they were found on him when he was taken, and faid they 
were concealed in his boot, except the pafs : 

A pafs from General Arnold to John Anderson, which 
name Major Andre acknowledged he affumed. 

Artillery orders, September 5, 1780. 

Eftimate of the force at Weft Point and its depen- 
dencies, September 1780. 

Eftimate of men to man the works at Weft Point, &c. 

Return of ordnance at Weft Point, September 1780. 

Remarks on works at Weft Point. 

Copy of a ftate of matters laid before a council of war, 
by his Excellency General Wafhington, held the 6th of 
September 1780. 

A letter 




JOHN PAULDING 



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( 9 ) 

A letter figned John Anderfon, dated Sept. 7, 1780, 
to Colonel Sheldon *, was alfo laid before the Board, 
and ftiewn to Major Andre, which he acknowledged to have 
been written by him, and is as follows : 

"SIR, " Nezv-Tork, the -jth Sept. 1780. 

" I AM told my name is made known to you, and that 
" I may hope your indulgence in permitting me to meet 
" a friend near your out polls. / will endeavour to ob- 
" tain permiffion to go out with a jlag which will be fent 
" to Dobb's Ferry on Monday next, the llth, at twelve 
" o'clock, when I Ihall be happy to meet Mr. G— §. 
" Should I not be allowed to go, the officer who is to 
** command the efcort, between whom and myfelf no 
" diftinftion need be made, can fpeak on the affair. 

" Let me entreat you. Sir, to favour a matter fo in- 
" terefting to the parties concerned, and which is of fo 
" private a nature that the public on neither fide can be 
" injured by it. 

" I ihall be happy on my part in doing any aft of kind- 
" nefs to you in a family or property concern of a fimilar 
" nature. 

" I truft I fhall not be detained, but fhould any old 
" grudge be a caufe for it, I ftiall rather rifk that, than 
" negleft the bufinefs in queftion, or ajjume a myjierious 
" character to carry on an innocent affair, and, as friends 
" have advifed, gef to your lines by Health. I am. Sir, 
" with all regard, 

" Tour moft obedient humble fervant, 

. "John Anderson." 
" Col. Sheldon." 

* Lejl it Jhould be fuppofed that Colonel Sheldon, to whom 
the above letter is addrejff^ed, was privy to the plot carrying on 
by general Arnold, it is to be obferved, that the letter was 
found among Arnold's papers, and had been tranfmitted by 
Colonel Sheldon, who, it appears from a letter of the gth of 
September to Arnold, which inclofed it, had never heard of 
John Anderfon before. Arnold in his anfwer on the loth, 
acknowledged he had not communicated it to him, though he 
had informed him that he expeSied a perfon would come from 
New- York, for the purpofe of bringing him intelligence. 

(§) // appears by the fame letter that Arnold had written 
to Mr. Anderfon, under the fignature of Gufavus. His 
words are " / was obliged to write with great caution to 
him, my letter was figned Gufiavus to prevent any difcovery 
in cafe it fell into the hands of the enemy" 

B 



( lO ) . 

Major Andre obferved that this letter could be of no 
force in the cafe in queftion, as it was written in New- 
York, when he was under the orders of General Clinton, 
but that it tended to prove that it was not his intention 
to come within our lines. 

The Board having interrogated Major Andre about his 
conception of his coming on fhore under the fanftion of a 
flag, he /aid. That it was impojjible for him to fuppofe he 
came on Jhore under that fanSiion ; and added. That if he 
came on ftiore under that fanftion, he certainly might have 
returned under it. 

Major Andre having acknowledged the preceding fafts, 
and being afked whether he had any thing to fay refpefting 
them, anfwered. He left them to operate with the Board. 

The examination of Major Andre being concluded, he 
was remanded into cuftody. 

The following letters were laid before the Board, and 

read: Benedift Arnold's letter to General Wafliing- 

ton, dated September 25, 1780. Col. Robinfon's letter 
to General Wafhington, dated September 25, 1780, and 
general Clinton's letter, dated the 26th September, 1780, 
(inclofing a letter of the fame date from Benedift Arnold) 
to General Wafhington. 



" On board the Vulture, Sept. 25, 1780. 

"SIR, 

"THE heart which is confcious of its own reftitude, 
cannot attempt to palliate a ftep which the world may cen- 
fure as wrong ; I have ever afted from a principle of love 
to my country, fince the commencement of the prefent 
unhappy conteft between Great-Britain and the Colonies ; 
the fame principle of love to my country aftuates my 
prefent conduft, however it may appear inconfiftent to 
the world, who very feldom judge right of any man's 
aftions. 

" I have no favour to aflc for myfelf. I have too often 
experienced the ingratitude of my country to attempt it ; 
but from the known humanity of your Excellence, I am 
induced to afk your proteftion for Mrs. Arnold, from 
every infult and injury that the miftaken vengeance of 
my country may expofe her to. It ought to fall only on 
me ; fhe is as good and as innocent as an angel, and is 
incapable of doing wrong. I beg fhe may be permitted 
to return to her friends in Philadelphia, or to come to me 
as Ihe may choofe ; from your Excellency I have no fears 

on 



( II ) 

on her account, but fhe may fuiFer from the miftaken fury 
of the country. 

" I have to requeft that the inclofed letter may be deli- 
vered to Mrs. Arnold, and fhe permitted to write to me. 

" I have alfo to a£k that my cloaths and baggage, which 
are of little confequence, may be fent to me, if required 
their value ftiall be paid in money. 

" / have the honour to be, with great regard and efieem, 
" Tour Excellency's moft obedient humble fervant, 

" B. ARNOLD." 
His Excellency General Waftiington." 

** N. B. In juftice to the gentlemen of my family. Col. 
Varrick and Major Franks, I think myfelf in honour 
bound to declare, that they, as well as Jofliua Smith, Efq; 
(who I know is fufpefted) are totally ignorant of any 
tranfadlions of mine, that they had reafon to believe were 
injurious to the public." 

" Vulture, off Sinfinck, Sept. 25, 1780. 

"SIR, 

" I A M this moment injormed that Major Andre, 
Adjutant General of his Majefty's army in America, is 
detained as a prifoner, by the army under your command. 
It is therefore incumbent on me to inform you of the 
manner of his falling into your hands : He went up with 
a flag at the requeft of General Arnold, on public bufinefs 
with him, and had his permit to return by land to New- 
York : Under thefe circumftances Major Andre cannot 
be detained by you, without the greateft violation of flags, 
and contrary to the cuftom and ufage of all nations ; and 
as I imagine you will fee this matter in the fame point of 
view as I do, I muft defire you will order him to be fet 
at liberty and allowed to return immediately : Every ftep 
Major Andre took was by the advice and direftion of Ge- 
neral Arnold, even that of taking a feigned name, and of 
courfe not liable to cenfure for it. 

" / am. Sir, not forgetting our former acquaintance, 
" Your very humble fervant, 

" BEV. ROBINSON, Col. 

Loyl. Americ." 
" His Excellency 
General Washington." 

" New- 



( 12 ) 

" New-Tork, Sept. 26, 1780. 
'^ S I R, 
"BEING informed that the King's Adjutant General 
in America has been ftopt, under Major General Arnold's 
paffports, and is detained a prifoner in your Excellency's 
army, I have the honour to inform you. Sir, that I per- 
mitted Major Andre to go to Major General Arnold, at 
the particular requeft of that general officer. You will 
perceive. Sir, by the inclofed paper, that a flag of truce 
w^as fent to receive Major Andre, and paflports granted 
for his return, I therefore can have no doubt but your 
Excellency will immediately direft, that this officer has 
permiffion to return to my orders at New- York. 

" / have the honour to be, jour Excellency's 

" nioji obedient and nioft humble fervt. 

" H. CLINTON." 
** His Excellency General Washington." 



" New-York, Sept. z6, 1780. 
"SIR, 

" IN anfwer to your Excellency's meflage, refpefting 
your Adjutant General, Major Andre, and deflring my 
idea of the reafons why he is detained, being under my 
paflports, I have the honour to inform you. Sir, that I appre- 
hend a few hours mufl return Major Andre to your Excel- 
lency's orders, as that officer is afluredly under the pro- 
tedlion of a flag of truce fent by me to him for the pur- 
pofe of a converfation which I requefl:ed to hold with 
him relating to myfelf, and which I wiftied to communi- 
cate through that officer to your Excellency. 

" I commanded at the time at Wefl, Point, had an 
undoubted right to fend my flag of truce for Major Andre, 
who came to me under that proteftion, and having held 
my converfation with him, I delivered him confidential 
papers in my own hand writing, to deliver to your Excel- 
lency, thinking it much properer he ftiould return by 
land, I direfted him to make ufe of the feigned name of 
John Anderfon, under which he had by my direftion 
o' come on ftiore, and gave him my paflports to go 
to the White Plains on his way to New- York. This 
officer cannot therefore fail of being immediately fent 
to New- York, as he was invited to a converfation 
with me, for which I fent him a flag of truce, and 
finally gave him paflports for his (afe return to your 
Excellency ; all which I had then a right to do, being in 
the aftual fervice of America, under the orders of Gene- 
ral 




A Q (-^ N '- T F. LI BEN 



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GEN, SIR WILLIAM HOWE 

:BieiTJ SH C OlvIIvCANljISTi JS GHIET, o.c c 
(Ti-om aiL^lDghBli prm± 1777J 




3IKW YtTRK f;-p-PrrTTirAT,4- - 



( '3 ) 

ral Wafhington, and commanding general at Weft Point 
and its dependencies. 

" / have the honour to be, your Excellency^ s 
" mojl obedient and very humble fervant, 

"B. ARNOLD." 
" His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton." 

The Board having confidered the letter from his Excel- 
lency General Wafhington refpefting Major Andre, Ad- 
jutant General to the Britifti army, the confeffion of Ma- 
jor Andre, and the papers produced to them, REPORT 
to His Excellency, the Commander in Chief, the follow- 
ing fafts, which appear to them relative to Major Andre. 

Firjl, That he came on ftiore from the Vulture {loop 
of war in the night of the twenty-firft of September in- 
ftant, on an interview with General Arnold, in a private 
and fecret manner. 

Secondly, That he changed his drefs within our lines, and 
under a feigned name, and in a disguifed habit, pafTed our 
works at Stoney and Ferplank's Points, the evening of the 
twenty-fecond of September inftant, and was taken the 
morning of the twenty-third of September inftant, at 
Tarry Town, in a difguifed habit, being then on his wav 
to New- York, and when taken, he had in his poiTeflion 
feveral papers, which contained intelligence for the enemy. 

The Board having maturely confidered thefe fafts, DO 
ALSO REPORT to His Excellency General Waftiing- 
ton. That Major Andre, Adjutant General to the Britifh 
army, ought to be confidered as a Spy from the enemy, 
and that agreeable to the law and ufage of nations, it is 
their opinion, he ought to fuffer death. 

Nath. Greene, M. Genl. Prefident. 
Stirling, M. G. 
Ar. St. Clair, M. G. 
La Fayette, M. G. 
R. Howe, M. G. 
Stuben, M. G. 
Saml. H. Parfons, B. Genl. 
James Clinton, B. Genl. 
H. Knox, Brigr. Genl. Artillery. 
Jno. Glover, B. Genl. 
John Patterfon, B. Genl. 
Edwd. Hand, B. Genl. 
J. Huntington, B. Genl. 
John Starke, B. Genl. 

John Lawrence, J. A. Genl. 



APPENDIX. 



Copy of a Letter from Major Andre, Adjutant General, 
to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. ^c. ^c. 

Tappan, Sept. 29, 1780. 
SIR, 

YOUR Excellency is doubtlefs already apprifed of 
the manner in which I was taken, and poffibly of 
the ferious light in which my conduft is confidered, and 
the rigorous determination that is impending. 

Under thefe circumftances, I have obtained General 
Wafhington's permiffion to fend you this letter ; the 
objedl of which is, to remove from your breaft any fuf- 
picion, that I could imagine I was bound by your Ex- 
cellency's orders to expofe myfelf to what has happened. 
The events of coming within an enemy's pofts, and of 
changing my drefs, which led me to my prefent fituati- 
on, were contrary to my own intentions, as they were 
to your orders ; and the circuitous route, which I took 
to return, was impofed (perhaps unavoidably) without 
alternative upon me. 

I am perfectly tranquil in mind, and prepared for any 
fate, to which an honeft zeal for my King's fervice 
may have devoted me. 

In addreffing myfelf to your Excellency on this occa- 
fion, the force of all my obligations to you, and of the 
attachment and gratitude I bear you, recurs to me. With 
all the warmth of my heart, I give you thanks for your 
Excellency's profufe kindnefs to me ; and I fend you 
the moft earneft wiflies for your welfare, which a faith- 
ful, affeftionate, and refpeftful attendant can frame. 

I have a mother and three fillers, to whom the value 
of my commiffion would be an objedl, as the lofs of 
Grenada has much afFefted their income. It is needlefs 
to be more explicit on this fubjeft; I am perfuaded of 
your Excellency's goodnefs. 

I receive 



( 15 ) 

I receive the greatefl attention from his Excellency 
General Wafhington, and from every perfon, under 
whole charge I happen to be placed. 
/ have the honour to be. 

With the moft refpeBful attachment. 

Your Excellencfs moft obedient 

and moft humble fervant, 
JOHN ANDRE, 
(Addrefled) Adjutant General. 

His Excellency 
General Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. 
^c. &c. &c. 

Copy of a letter from His Excellency General Wafhing- 
ton, to His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. 

Head Quarters, Sept. 30, 1780. 
SIR, 

I N anfwer to your Excellency's letter of the 26th 
inftant, w^hich I had the honour to receive, I am to in- 
form you, that Major Andre w^as taken under fuch cir- 
cumftances as would have juftified the moft fummary 
proceedings againft him. I determined, however, to re- 
fer his cafe to the examination and decifion of a Board 
of General Officers, who have reported, on his free and 

voluntary confeffion and letters, "That he came on 

" ftiore from the Vulture floop of war in the night of 
" the twenty-firft of September inftant," &c. &c. as in 
the report of the Board of General Officers. 

From thefe proceedings it is evident Major Andre was 
employed in the execution of meafures very foreign to 
the objefts of flags of truce, and fuch as they were ne- 
ver meant to authorife or countenance in the moft diftant 
degree ; and this gentleman confefTed, with the greateft 
candor, in the courfe of his examination, " That it was 
" impoffible for him to fuppofe he came on fliore, under 
" the fanftion of a flag." 

/ have the honour to be your Excellency's 

Moft obedient and moft humble fervant, 

G. WASHINGTON. 
(Addrefl"ed) 
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. 

In this letter. Major Andre's of the 29th of September 
to Sir Henry Clinton, was tranfmitted. 

New- York, 



( i6 ) 

New-York, 29, Sept. 1780. 
S I R, 

PERSUADED that you are inclined rather to pro- 
mote than prevent the civilities and afts of humanity, 
which the rules of war permit between civilized nations, 
I find no difficulty in reprefenting to you, that feveral 
letters and meffages fent from hence have been difregard- 
ed, are unanfwered, and the flags of truce that carried 
them, detained. As I ever have treated all flags of truce 
with civility and refpeft, I have a right to hope, that 
you will order my complaint to be immediately redrelTed. 
Major Andre, who vifited an officer commanding in a 
diftrict at his own defire, and adled in every circumftance 
agreeable to his diredtion, I find is detained a prifoner ; 
my friendfliip for him leads me to fear he may fuiFer fome 
inconvenience for want of neceflaries ; I wilh to be al- 
lowed to fend him a few, and fliall take it as a favour if 
you will be pleafed to permit his fervant to deliver them. 
In Sir Henry Clinton's abfence it becomes a part of my 
duty to make this reprefentation and requeft. 
/ am. Sir, your Excellency's 

Moft obedient humble fervant, 

JAMES ROBERTSON, 
Lt, General. 
His Excellency 
General Wafhington. 



Tappan, Sept. 30, 1780. 

SIR, 

I HAVE juft received your letter of the 29th. Any 
delay which may have attended your flags has proceeded 
from accident, and the peculiar circumftances of the oc- 
cafion, — not from intentional negleft or violation. The 
letter that admitted of an anfwer, has received one as 
early as it could be given with propriety, tranfmitted by 
a flag this morning. As to meffages, I am uninformed 
of any that have been fent. 

The neceffaries for Major Andre will be delivered to 
him, agreeable to your requeft. 
/ am. Sir, 

Tour mojl obedient humble fervant, 

G. WASHINGTON. 
His Excellency 
Lieut. General Robertfon, 
New- York. 

New- York, 




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( '7 ) 

New- York, Sept. 30. 1780. 
SIR, 

FROM your Excellency's letter of this date, I am 
perfuaded the Board of General Officers, to whom you 
referred the cafe of Major Andre, can't have been rightly 
informed of all the circumftances on which a judgment 
ought to be formed. I think it of the higheft moment 
to humanity, that your Excellency fhould be perfeftly 
apprized of the ftate of this matter, before you proceed 
to put that judgment in execution. 

For this reafon, I ftiall fend His Excellency Lieut. Ge- 
neral Robertfon, and two other gentlemen, to give you 
a true ftate of fafts, and to declare to you my fentiments 
and refolutions. They will fet out to-morrow as early as 
the wind and tide will permit, and wait near Dobbs's 
ferry for your permiffion and fafe conduft, to meet your 
Excellency, or fuch perfons as you may appoint, to 
converfe with them on this fubjeft. 

/ have the honour to be, your Excellency's 

Mo ft obedient and mo ft humble fervant, 

H. CLINTON. 

P. S. The Hon. Andrew Elliot, Efq. Lieut. Governor, 
and the Hon. William Smith, Chief Juftice of this pro- 
vince, will attend His Excellency Lieut. General Ro- 
bertfon. 

H. C. 

His Excellency General Wafhington. 

Lieut. General Robertfon, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. Smith 
came up in a flag vefTel to Dobb's ferry, agreeable to the 
above letter. The two laft were not fuiFered to land. 
General Robertfon was permitted to come on fliore, and 
was met by Major General Greene, who verbally re- 
ported that General Robertfon mentioned to him in fub- 
ftance what is contained in his letter of the 2d of Odlo- 
ber to General Wafhington. 

New-York, Oa. I, 1780. 
SIR, 

I TAKE this opportunity to inform your Excel- 
lency, that I confider myfelf no longer afting under the 
commiffion of Congrefs: Their laft to me being among 
my papers at Weft-point, you. Sir, will make fuch ufe 
of it, as you think proper. 

C At 



( i8 ) 

At the fame time, I beg leave to aflure your Excellency, 
that my attachment to the true intereft of my country is 
invariable, and that I am aftuated by the same prin- 
ciple which has ever been the governing rule of my 
conduft, in this unhappy conteft. 

/ have the honour to be, very refpe£ifully. 

Your Excellency's moji obedient humble fervant, 

B. ARNOLD. 
His Excellency General Wafliington. 

Greyhound Schooner, Flag of Truce, 
Dobbs's Ferry, OSlober z, 1780. 
SIR, 

A NOTE I have from General Greene, leaves me 
in doubt if his memory had ferved him, to relate to you 
with exaftnefs the fubflance of the converfation that had 
pafled between him and myfelf, on the fubjeft of Major 
Andre, In an affair of fo much confequence to my 
friend, to the two armies, and humanity, I would leave 
no poffibility of a mifunderflanding, and therefore take the 
liberty to put in writing the fubftance of what I faid to 
General Greene. 

I offered to prove, by the evidence of Colonel Robin- 
fon and the officers of the Vulture, that Major Andre 
went on fhore at General Arnold's defire, in a boat fent 
for him with a flag of truce ; that he jiot only came 
afhore with the knowledge and under the protedlion of 
the General who commanded in the diftrift, but that he 
took no ftep while on fliore but by diredlion of General 
Arnold, as will appear by the inclofed letter from him to 
your Excellency. 

Under thefe circumftances I could not, and hoped you 
would not, confider Major Andre as a fpy, for any im- 
proper phrafe in his letter to you. 

The fafts he relates correfpond with the evidence I 
offer ; but he admits a conclufion that does not follow. 
The change of cloaths and name was ordered by General 
Arnold, under whofe direftion he neceffarily was, while 
within his command. As General Greene and I did not 
agree in opinion, I wiflied, that difinterefted gentlemen 
of knowledge of the law of war and nations, might be 
afked their opinion on the fubjeft; and mentioned Mon- 
fieur Knyphaufen, and General Rochambault. 

I related that a Captain Robinfon had been delivered to 
Sir Henry Clinton as a fpy, and undoubtedly was fuch ; 
but that it being fignified to him that you were delirous 

that 



( '9 ) 

that this man fhould be exchanged, he had ordered him to 
be exchanged. 

I wiflied that an intercourfe of fuch civilities, as the 
rules of war admit of, might take off many of its horrors. 
I admitted that Major Andre had a great fhare of Sir 
Henry Clinton's efteem, and that he would be infinitely 
obliged by his liberation ; and that if he was permitted to 
return with me, I would engage to have any perfon you 
would be pleafed to name fet at liberty. 

I added, that Sir Henry Clinton had never put to 
death any perfon for a breach of the rules of war, though 
he had, and now has, many in his power. Under the 
prefent circumftances, much good may arife from hu- 
manity, much ill from the want of it. If that could give 
any weight, I beg leave to add, that your favourable 
treatment of Major Andre, will be a favour I fhould ever 
be intent to return to any you hold dear. 

My memory does not retain with the exadlnefs I could 
wifti, the words of the letter which General Greene 
fhewed me from Major Andre to your Excellency. For 
Sir Henry Clinton's fatisfaction, I beg you will order a 
copy of it to be fent to me at New- York. 

/ have the honour to be, your Excellency's 

Mojl obedient and moft humble fervant, 

JAMES ROBERTSON. 
His Excellency General Wafhington. 

New- Tor k, October i, 1780. 

SIR, 

THE polite attention fliewn by your Excellency and 
the Gentlemen of your family to Mrs. Arnold, when in 
diftrefs, demand my grateful acknowledgment and thanks, 
which I beg leave to prefent. 

From your Excellency's letter to Sir Henry Clinton, I 
find a Board of General Officers have given it as their 
opinion, that Major Andre comes under the defcription of 
a fpy : My good opinion of the candor and juftice of 
thofe Gentlemen leads me to believe, that if they had 
been made fully acquainted with every circumftance re- 
fpefting Major Andre, that they would by no means have 
confidered him in the light of a fpy, or even of a pri- 
foner. In juftice to him, 1 think it my duty to declare, 
that he came from on board the Vulture at my particular 
requeft, by a flag fent on purpofe for him by Jofhua 
Smith, Efq. who had permiffion to go to Dobbs's ferry 
to carry letters, and for other purpofes not mentioned, 

and 



( 20 ) 

and to return. This was done as a blind to the fpy boats: 
Mr. Smith at the same time had my private dirediions to 
go on board the Vulture, and bring on fhore Col. Robin- 
fon, or Mr. John Anderfon, which was the name 1 had 
requefted Major Andre to affume : At the fame time 1 
defired Mr. Smith to inform him, that he fhould have my 
proteftion, and a fafe paflport to return in the fame boat, 
as foon as our businefs was compleated. As feveral acci- 
dents intervened to prevent his being fent on board, 1 gave 
him my paflport to return by land. Major Andre came 
on fhore in his uniform (without difguife) which with much 
reluftance, at my particular and prefling inftance, he ex- 
changed for another coat. 1 furnifhed him with a horfe 
and faddle, and pointed out the route by which he was to 
return. And as commanding officer in the department, 
1 had an undoubted right to tranfaft all thefe matters ; 
which, if wrong. Major Andre ought by no means to 
fufFer for them. 

But if, after this juft and candid reprefentation of Major 
Andre's cafe, the Board of General Officers adhere to 
their former opinion, 1 fhall fuppofe it diftated by paffion 
and refentment ; and if that Gentleman fhould suffer the 
feverity of their fentence, 1 fliall think myfelf bound by 
every tie of duty and honour, to retaliate on such unhappy 
perfons of your army, as may fall within my power, 
that the refpeft due to flags, and to the law of nations, 
may be better underfl;ood and obferved. 

1 have further to obferve, that forty of the principal 
inhabitants of South-Carolina have juftly forfeited their 
lives, which have hitherto been fpared by the clemency 
of His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, who cannot in 
jufl.ice extend his mercy to them any longer, if Major 
Andre fuffers ; which in all probability will open a fcene 
of blood at which humanity will revolt 

Suffer me to intreat your Excellency, for your own 
and the honour of humanity, and the love you have of 
jufl^ice, that you fuffer not an unjuft fentence to touch 
the life of Major Andre. 

But if this warning fliould be difregarded, and he fuf- 
fer, 1 call heaven and earth to witnefs, that your Ex- 
cellency will be juflly anfwerable for the torrent of 
blood that may be fpilt in confequence. 

/ bape the honour to be, with due refpeSi, your Excellency's 
Moft obedient and very humble ferv ant, 

B. ARNOLD. 

His Excellency General Washington. 

Tappan, 




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( 21 ) 

Tappan, Oil. i, 1780. 
SIR, 

BUOY'D above the terror of death, by the confci- 
oufnels of a life devoted to honourable purfuits, and ftained 
with no aftion that can give me remorfe, I truft that the 
requell I make to your Excellency at this ferious period, 
and which is to foften my laft moments, will not be re- 
jefted. 

Sympathy towards a foldier will furely induce your Ex- 
cellency and a military tribunal to adopt the mode of my 
death to the feelings of a man of honour. 

Let me hope. Sir, that if ought in my character im- 
prefles you with efteem towards me, if ought in my mif- 
fortunes marks me as the viftim of policy and not of re- 
fentment, 1 fhall experience the operation of thefe feelings 
in your bread, by being informed that 1 am not to die on 
a gibbet. 

/ have the hotiour to be, jour Excellences 
Moji obedient and moji humble ferv ant, 

JOHN ANDRE, 
Adj. Gen. to the Britijh army. 

The time which elapfed between the capture of Major 
Andre, which was on the morning of the 23d of Sept. and 
his execution, which did not take place till 12 o'clock on 
the 3d of Oftober ; — the mode of trying him; — his letter 
to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. on the 29th of September, in 
which he faid, " I receive the greateft attention from his 
" Excellency General Wafhington, and from every per- 
" fon under whofe charge I happen to be placed;" — not 
to mention many other acknowledgements which he made 
of the good treatment he received; — muft evince, that the 
proceedings againil him were not guided by paffion or re- 
fentment. The praftice and ufage of war were againft 
his requeft, and made the indulgence he folicited, circum- 
ftanced as he was, inadmiffible. 

Publijked by order of Congrefs, 
CHARLES TYiOM^O^, Secretary. 









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